PS 1549 
.D8P6 


















^'^ 





























^^^ 



^ ,' 



'#' 









-0 









•# 






,M 






.0' '. 



- rr 



:^^ 



\,-v- 



1 « * \ » 

A V 






-^^ * o , o ' . <^ 



"fLr^ 






O ' 9 



% 

o 



'hv 



'9W. 



■• o. 



"oV 



\ 









)K 



'^^o^ 






p. 



::^^* "'>• 0^ 




7 






BEIS'G THE 



and Jinuftttiiblc ^ixU 



ilWil 



X[\^ . \irxMS-\AJ^ (y^ djyjuSJh^ , ')l . ^ ^ 




?d 



RALEIGH: -'/^ T 
NICHOLS, GORMAN & NEATHERY, PUBLISHERS. 

1S67. 






CopyniGHT Secured Accokding to Law. 



TO 



H. W. HU8TED, ESQ., 



THIS POEM 



IS LAUGHINGLY DEDICA.TE.D, 



BY ITS ACTHOR. 



t\t public. 



My Dear Public : — I call you dear because, mutual 
admiration being the basis of friendship, <'.s I admire 
you and hope you will admire me, our friendship may 
be considered an assured fact, — let me tell you the ori- 
gin of the poem called Pluto, 

Sitting not long since at the table of a genial host, 
the talk turned on women and wives and the reasons 
why they so often fail in obtaining their most cher- 
ished desires. I ascribed, the. fact to the excessive 
eagerness displayed by the dear creatures to achieve 
their aims, and cited the case of Her Satanic Majesty, 
Queen Proserpine, otherwise Mrs. Phito, when in order 
to part her lord from the too fascinating xVInithe, she 
changed that lovely damsel into the fragrant herb which 
bears her name. " Short sighted Goddess, Major," I ex- 
claimed, " not to perceive this course was the very one 
to place her rival Ibrever in the power of the King, 
as when the old fellow wished to secure the society of 
his Beloved, he had only to call for a glass ot Mint 
Julep !" 

" Ha ! ha !" said the Major, '• Not bad, Frank !— put 
it in verse." " I will," said I, and I did ! 

Now, dear Public, taking the fair Minthe by the 
hand, I introduce her to you, and say with the most 
cordial of bows: Here's till ye! 

With the compliments of 

FRANK DASHMORE. 
Dixie, 18G7. 




K 1:1 f^. 4^ L 



il« ,f ii:t1 'iti$t0i'w »tiil ^amtirtiille iite dl tlie iair 



i[^ 



il^ 



--Ci^W^' 



€i 



HE ATTHorR TKLLETH YK OCCASloNE OF YE 
1 DYTTIE. 



Jpre.siune, tliougli perliaps I am totally wrong, 
You luiYo all read in OYid's remarkable song, 
(If YOU lia Yo not, you'll hear them before Yery long,) 
Tho^e Yerses which tell 
Tlie fate that befell, 
A hnly. who acted exceedingly well 
l>ul wliom all her innocence, sweetness and beauty, 
Iter modesty, grace and devotion to duty, 
Her want of ambition, her pureness of life 
Could not sa\e from the wrath of a tierce jealous wife ! 



G 

§0W KYXGE PLUTO WAS VEXED WITH AX UNEASYE 
SPIEIT, AND SUFFEEED TORMENT FROM YE HU- 
MOURES OF HYS QUENE. 

the history relates, that grim Pluto, worn out, 
By the cares of liis kingdom, and tired, no doubt. 
Of the sullis of his hidy, whose permanent i^out 
]N'o amount of demoniac demotion couhl rout. 
Or else, for some reasons wliicli do not concern us. 
Xo pleasure could tind in his realm of Avernus : 
And turning his troubles again and again. 
In the depths of liis sluggishly saturnine brain — 
That the Fates and the Furii^she could not restrain — 
That to lianiper the Har])ies. his tactics weir \ aiii — 
Tliat. des])ite liis best efforts, a glorious tr;iin 
Of gloritied mortals. escape(l all liis pain : 
That bis dim honeymoon was fai'gone in the wane — 
That his "wife was rebellious : — in short, he was fain 
To be vexed in a mann(>r I canin)t ex])laiii. 



;2tt« 11 



fE MONARCH ENDEAVORETH TO BURN OUT HYS 
SORROWS BY COPIOUS DRAUGHTS OF YE FIRE WA- 
■^TER, BUT ONLY BURNETH THEM IN YE DEEPER. 



is Majesty strove to repress this bad feeling, 
Or blunt its etfect, by clandestinely stealing, 
To Phlegethon's river, which glittered and glowed 
A torrent of fire, as forward it flowed. 



4 

Alul liore he would inutter. 

And .stainiiier and stutter, 
Sucli words as no ^-entlenian monarch should utter: 

And I \erily thiidv. 

As he stood on the brink, 
The naughty ohl feHow took many a drink 
Of tlie Naptlialine waves as tliey madly did dash on 
W'itli tlie hope, I daresay, that in Indian-like fashion, 
Fighting tire with tire, his troubles would be 
Consumed in a twiidvling, and he be set free. 
All his efforts were vain; not e'en Phlegethon's burnino; 
Could stay foi* a second, the twisting and turnino 
Of thoughts and emotions beyond his control : 
Ami he felt, in the innei'most depths of his soul. 

No force could exjjel, 

Xo threatenings could (piell. 
An im])udei)t i)rompting too ready to tell 
HelTs monarch was getting particular — well, 
It is not my business to say what he thouo-ht 
r\e only to tell of the mischief he wroua'ht. 



i5 



f Dtte III, 



3K/flE KYXGE FORGETFULLE OF HYS AGE AND STATE, 
r^FALLETH IXTO A GKIEVIOUS ERROUR. 

It chanced, as his Majesty wandered one day, 
^Through his realm, in a listlessl}^ loitering way, 
That he came to a ferry, 
From which a grim wherry 



Crossed over Cocytus, a river so very 
Peculiar, that really, believe it who can. 
It was wholly a river and partly a man ! 

It was certainly water. 

And yet had a daughter, 
80 fair and so lo\ely, that every one thouoht her 
A goddess, and nuniherles suitors liad sought her 
\\ ith a ])atient ])ersisteiice, wliich certainly ought to 
Ha\'e melted Ium' luvtrt. and induciMl her to lea\e 
Ilerwateryold father, whose name nutans "togrieN c!'""" 
King Plt'I^o had hoard of tlu^ fame of this maid. 
And though an old gentleman soher and staid. 
**Yerv married'' l)esides. had n(» business to know 

^Vnv charms in black eyes, or in shoulders of sn(»w. 

I am sorry to say, the iidiei'ent iniciuity 

Of nature d(^\"(do])e(l a glaring ol)li(|uity, 

And th(^ eyes and th(> shoulders produi-ed an effect 

On his feelings, which certainly should hnw becni checked 

Put was not. and now, as he stood in his ])ri(le 

Py the river with crooning and (|uerulons tide. 

He thought of the damsel who dwelt l)v its side. 

And determined that he 

Would at once go to see 
This i)eerlessly, perfectly, paragon-she. 
And note if her charms could with runujr agree. 
So, sullenly seating himself in the bark, 



*Cocytiis — Kto)ct'ro5 — so called from the nioaiiiiig sound of 
its waters; from a verb ineaniuo- to g-rieve or lament. ■ 



He gave his eoiniTiands to its ferryman dark, 
And over the bhick, gloomy waters was sped- 
As suited his station, a royal dead head ! 




E FAIR MINTHE IS EXCOMPASS-ED BY WICKED 
DEVYCES, BUT YIELDETH NOT THEREUNTO. 



H! MiNTHE, smiling maiden, 



Among the flowers at play. 
Could none descry the danger 
Close hovering o'er thy way ? 
Could none avert the evil 
Of that disastrous day ! 

King Pluto found the maiden, 

A merry hearted child, 

And she charmed his gloomy fancies 

With a magic influence mild, 

'Till in short, he learned to love her 

With a passion all too wild. 

Her beauty and her brightness. 
And her sunny temper rife, 
With the tenderness that blesses 
With a taste of Heaven, this life, 
Formed a most delightful contrast 
To his cold and captious wife. 



10 

So day b}^ day he wandered, 
Yielding to his passion strong, 
And, enchanted, like her shadow 
He followed her along. 
Striving hard to make her love him, 
Which was very, very wrong ! 

Yet the gentle maiden loved him 
As a 2:entle maiden should ; — 
As a subject loves her monarch ; — 
Nay, she gave him what she could 
Of o-randauorhterlv devotion. 
In its way, 'twas very good ! 

But the monarch, not contented. 

Sighed and swore and mourned and moaned. 

For a very different feeling 

From the one, the maiden owned. 

He would make her Mrs. Pluto, 

Vice Proserpine dethroned ! 




AME RUMOUKE GOETH TO YE COURTE OF PLUTO AND STIRRETH UP 
A DEADLYE STRYFE, WHICH CAUSETH QUENE PROSERPINE TO COM- 

PORTE HERSELF IN A MANNER, WHICH ILL BEFITTETH A LADYE AND 
A QUENE ! 



? 



is said that Rumor is a dame 
Who owns a tongue all long and jangling, 



11 

To Pluto's court she quickly came 

And iiiado a monstrous stir and wrana'linsf. 

Queen Prosepina tore lier hair. 

And tore her husband's too, ' tis hinted ; 

If aui^-ht couhl make a Goddess swear, 

I fear expletives were not stinted ! 

She called her lord an ugly name, 

To say the least, 'twas injudicious ; 

Then vowed that she would risk her fame 

To stop him in a course so vicious! 

And tlien she spoke of Enna's vale, 

And loudly mourned her prospects blighted, 

Swearing that Minthe soon should quail 

Before a Goddess scorned and slighted. 

She made her husband understand 
'Twas simply as an act of duty, 
That she stretched out her royal hand 
To snatch him from a mortal beauty. 
" Not that I'd move a single mite, 
Or stir one step, except to fret you ; 
I hate you ; but I'll take my spite ; 
That artful minx shall never o-et you ! 

'She is not artful ?' Oh ! you w^retch ! 
You vile, designing, dreadful sinner ! 
Oh ! may ten thousand Furies catch ! — 
Just wait, 'till I have had my dinner, 
And I'll go up to mother's court. 



12 

I rather think that we, between us, 

Can find some spell with mischief fraught, 

Which will affect your ' artless ' Venus !" 

The angry Goddess flies apace, 
And to her mother sympathising, 
Pours but her woes in little space, 
And joins in her anath'matising. 
And Ceres made a potent charm ; 
Then to her vengeful daughter telling 
The secret of its power to harm. 
She sent her back to Pluto's dwellinir — 




yp. YNGE PLUTO KETUKNETH TO YE EVIL OF HYS A\AYS AND A MIC4HTYE 
CALAMITYE ENSUETH THEREFKOME. 



am sorry to say 

That during her stay, 
King Pluto behaved in a very bad way ! 
For he jumped in his boat, 
JSTever caring a groat. 
And, fast as the waves and waters could float, 
Hastened back to the side of his Minthe again, 
To forget in her smiles all remembrance of pain. 
She saw he was troubled, and, innocent child, 
Tried her prettiest fancies his grief to beguile. 



13 

She laughed niul she sported, she danced and she sung, 

Till weary and rosy, half breathless, she flung 

11(M' beautiful form on the grass at his feet 

And lay panting and roguish, provokingly sweet. 

Snatching handful s of blossoms around her that lay, 

She tossed their bright lejives o'er her lover so gray; 

Then laughing aloud in her frolicsome glee, 

Would l)ashfully pee]) in his eyes, just to see 

If his trouble was gone, when the passionate fire 

That those tierce eyes expressed, made her blushes rise higher, 

' Till yielding to feelings she could not disown, 

She trembled and thrilled with an influence unknown. 

Then dimly a consciousness over her crept 

And, hiding her face in her fingers, she wept 

Clreat tears, which fell down in a glittering tide, 

And lay sparkling like dew, on the flowers at her side. 

To see her lie there in her beauty and grief, 

Xor cheer her, noi* profier some hope of relief. 

Was more than King Pluto could possibly do ; 

So, bending down to her, he tenderly drew 

Her head to his bosom, and soothed and caressed 

Till her fears were allayed and her griefs were repressed, 

And she lay nestled close, in a bashful surprise, 

The tears on her eyelids, but smiles in her eyes ! 

He parted the curls from her beautiful brow 

And, uttering a fervent and lover-like vow, 

Was placing a seal to attest it, but now 

From a space just behind him a voice rang out clear, 

In accents familiar and fierce to his ear, 



14 

I 



Some words which his majesty cared not to hear 
Quick turning around, he lifted up his head 
While his heart sank as cold in his bosom as lead, 
For, close by his side, in a tempest of strife, 
Which rent her with fury and rage, stood his wife! 
She glared for a moment, then uttering a deep. 
Half audible curse, with an eagle-like sweep. 
She stooped over Minthe and suddenly threw 
All round her a baleful and poisonous dew. 



'att:e 



fE CRUEL BEHAVIOURE OF YE QUENE AND YE WICKEDE CURSE SHE 
IMPOSETH ON YE FAIRE MINTHE. 

' 'Vile wretch." she exclaimed. ' 'to the Shades thou shouldst 
By an infamous death, were it not that I know 

* r 

That to send thee to Hades, is only to give 

Thee to Pluto forever. Therefore thou shalt live ! 

With thy nature all changed, 

From thy lover estranged. 

With the grass of the field shall thy station be ranged ! 

The spell has been spoken. 

With mystical token, 

Through ages unbroken its power shall remain ! 

And the depths of thy sorrow 

Fresh anguish shall borrow, 

And each swift-coming morrow shall heighten thy pair 



Be this tlio light ever swelling 
Beyond thy compelling, 
And mockingly telling 
With scott' and with jeer ; 
' Tiion art h)st to thy lover ; 
Xo art can discover 
A power to recover, 
The charms he held dear!' 
Thono-h thv form l)e not human, 
In heart, be thou woman ! 
Let womanly feeling- 
Be ever revealing 

The woe of thy lover, a woe which will never 
By any endeavor 
Be able to sever, 

The doom 1 decree thee forever ! forever ! !" 
She ceased, but with a baleful glare 
Looked on the trembling maiden fair. 
Who shrinking from th' impending hurt, 
Essayed soft pleading, to avert 
The direful storm which round her broke, 
And thus in plaintive accents spoke. 



IG 




)E GENTLE MINTHE MAKETH HER ARTLESSE APPEALE, BUT IT FAILETH 
TO PROPITIATE YE ANGRYE QUENE ; WHEREAT BHE WAXETH BOLD 
AND TELLETH TO PROSERPINE THAT YE VERIE MEANS SHE USETH 
TO ATTAINE HER DESIRE WILL BRINGE ABOUTE YE VICTORYE OF HER 
RIVALLE. 

"^^ fS^H ! sovereign lady, is it well 

^^ To l)lig-ht with an unending spell, 
A life, whose sweetness, none may tell 1 

Majestic lady, life's fair sun, 

Not half his morning course has run ; 

Oh ! let him sliine. 'till (hty is done ! 

Such simple pleasures make my life; 
It knows not passion's wrangling strife, 
But is with richest raptures rife ! 

I've tried to spend it as I should, 
In blessing others, as I could, 
And less be happy, than be good. 

Oh ! let me live, for life is sweet — 
And of itself will quickly fleet, 
Too quickly, from my girlish feet! 

Alas ! insensible as steel, 

Thou wilt not heed my sad a^Ji^eal. 

Thy cruel spell even now I feel. 



17 

Then lady, know, nltliougli thine art 
My form from Pluto may dispart, 
ril reiu-n f()r(^\ov in his heart!" 

She ceased, and tlirongli lier tender frame, 
A fierce convulsive shudder came. 
And lanuuidly each lovely linil) 
Seemed melting' into shadows dim ; 

'Till as some biibhle, bri^'ht and fair, 
A moment i^listens in the air, 
Then vanishes in rosy spray. 
So softly calm, she passed away. 

And on the bosom of the kino- 
Wliere late her gentle head had rested, 
There lay a little fragrant thing, 
AVhose beauty rare, its worth attested! 

Oh! not nn^re delicate and sweet, 
The richest charms of summer roses 
Than the ambrosial scents complete. 
The new l)orn ])lant around discloses. 

And in the light aorial grace, 
With which its tender form was laden. 
King Pluto, with delight, could trace 
A likeness to the gentle maiden. 

Upon the leaves of vivid green 

Two diamond dewdrops brightly smiling, 



18 

Looked up through their translucent sheen, 
Like her sweet eyes, his grief l)eguiling. 

Immortal eyes can sometimes weep ; 

The King's o'erflowed beyond prevention. 

.e cursed his queen with curses deep. 
In words no christian pen can mention ! 

And then with proud, averted head 

And face all dark with memories mournful. 

He strode away with gloomy tread. 

And entered Hades sad and scornful. 




jE UNHAPPYK KYNGE UNDER YE INFLUENCE OF HYS SORROWE USETH 
SUCHE TYRRANYE THAT HYS SUBJECTS ARE READYE TO REBELLE, AND 
IT BECOMETH NECESSARYE THAT YE GREAT JOVE INTERFERE. 



ND sad and scornful he remained 



And daily grew more fierce and horrid, 
Till universal discord reigned 

Through his infernal region torrid. 

The discontent grew strong and fast, 
And restless shades, and ghosts erratic 

Laid platforms down, and motions j^assed 
Which were by far, too democratic ! 

So quick the spreading evil ran 

That, lest his Brother should be slighted, 



19 

Omniscient Jove devised a j)]nii 

By wliicli the matter miiilit be righted. 

JSe\ ere ()lymj)iaii etiquette. 

All business of the realm required 

JJone in the hall of Zeus, yet 
As Jupiter just then, desired 

A little leisure to attend 

A trifling- service in his power. 

(To aid a fragile female friend 

By s]»rinkling down a golden shower,) 

He thought it best to set aside 
All precedent on this occasion, 

And have the case in Hades tried. 
Thus legalizing love's evasion. 

So, having called a special court, 

With speech not in the least disjointed. 

He showed the action, which he thought 
The case required, and then appointed, 

Some special deputies, to go 

As soon as their convenience suited 

To the reljellious realm below 

With ])owers, that might not be disputed. 

Uprising from the chair of state, 

With solemn pomp, the God proceeded 



20 

Neptune and Mars to nominate 

With other (tocIs, who might be needed. 

"Bacchus and Mercury," he said, 

"Shall go along; also Apollo." 
Here Venus raised her shining head 

And said that she would like to fcdlow. 

The Tliunderer gazed with awful stare, 
But to his knee, she slyly sidled, 

And sweetly coaxed. Quoth h)\(\ " My deal' 
Cxo on." Whereat Minerva bridled. 




«g;t YNGE PLTJTO RELATETH HYS DOLEFITLE STATE, CURSETH HIS QUENE, 



WILL FINDE A CHARME WHICH WILL BRINGE YE LOSTE MINTHE 



AND OEFERETH A REWARDE OF MIGHTYE VALUE, TO WHOMSOEVER 



B.'.CKE TO HYS ARMS AGAINE. 



p^ IXG Pluto was seated, as suited his state, 
^^ On the throne of his glory, and gloomily great. 
Endeavored to show what a terrible weight 
Of despair had been caused by the furious hate 
And fiendish revenge of his merciless mate. 

Thereupon he proceeded, 

As scarcely was needed, 
To state that if Proserpine only had heeded 



21 

The pleadings of MiNTifE, and let her remain 

jN"either one of the three would have cause to complain ! 

Then in tremulous tone 

And with pitiful moan, 

He said he would own 

That by Mintlie alone, 

Abroad or at home. 

Or where'er he mioht roam, 

His heart was possessed, 

And lie freely confessed 
That to ^IiNTHE alone, every thouo-ht was addressed ! 

And yet he must tell, 

The etf'ect of this spell, 

He was powerless to quell, 

Caused his bosom to swell 
\\'ith anguish, which made it a miniature Hell ! 
Till tortured, tormented and maddened with pain 
He Ijehaved in a way which, his subjects comiDlain, 
Was rash and outrageous. 'Twas true, he allowed. 
Then rising- and lookini;- all over the crowd, 
Which closely pressed round him, he solemnly vowed, 

If any would find 

A cliarin that could bind 
The influence of Minthe to rapture refined, 

So that sweeter and dearer. 

And brighter and nearer, 
Than she ever had been, he might tangibly wear her, 



22 



With a powerful oath, the iinscrupuhDiis swearer 
Declared he would give, if such treasure were brought 
An amount of felicity, passing all thought! 






iE DEPUTIES PROCEEDE TO YE CONSIDER ATIONE OF YE IMPORTANT BIT 
SINESSE BEFORE THEM. AND YEN ITS DECIDETH YE MATTER. 



^HE speech was cheered, 
^ The palace cleared, ^ 

In a twinkling, of all Init the lew who appeared 
As a special committee, and those they selected 
To make up their court ; over which they elected, 
With a taste we can hardly hel]^ terming erotic. 
As President Venus, with powers despotic. 
The Goddess of Beauty Avas placed in the chair, 
Which she filled with a splendor no words can declare. 

And ])utting the case, 

With a wonderful gr-ice. 
Asked the candid opinion of each in its place. 

Bluff Neptune averred, 

That if Pluto was stirred 
By some sharp sudden shock, (and he often had heard 

When all else had failed, 

Such a measure availed,) 



23 



All Ills troubles would fly 
Jiikc mist from the sky, 
" Aud avast mates, says I, 

There's nothing- to cure hiui. at least to my notion, 
So swift and so sure, as a di|) in the Ocean ! " 
The beautiful ])resid(Mit smikd with disdain, 
And pettishly tossiui:: her liead, ''It is plain. 

Oh ! ]N"e])tune," said she, 

" You're as oreen as your sea ! 
I call on .\.[)ollo. it may be that he 
A little less far from the subject will be! " 
A])ollo declared, as he tapped on his lyre, 
He had studied the subject, and in his desire 
To ])rotit all pai'ties, his counsel would tend 
To a means Avhich, he felt, would accomplish the end. 

'T think that a blaze 

Intellectual will raise 
Kino- Pluto away from the torturing maze 
Of darkness and pain, which arouml him has closed. 
And so without vanity, I am disposed 
To ])rotfer my plan as the best one proposed ! 

Unless he refuses, 

Let one of the Muses 

Or all. if he chooses. 
Display their attainments and then I will show him 
A cure for his o-rief in an Essay and Poem ! " 



24 



The Goddess clapped her snowy hands, 
And throwing back the weaving bands, 
And clustering curls of golden hair 
Which glittered o'er her shoulders bare. 
Laughed long and loud, then bowed her head 
To hide her mirth, and taunting said ; 
" Oh ! grand Apollo, can you iind 
No charm more great than that of Mind ? 
Why, don't you know% one single Muse 
Would blight poor Pluto with the blues; 
Think then what misery would confound hira 
Should all the noisy Nine surround him ! 
And let me tell you, learned friend, 
Though every poNver on it you bend, 
You'll never find with all your art. 
An essay ease a heavy heart ! 
Excuse me if I rudely toucli 
Your cherished fancies ; I have much 
Endured from you to make me rough 
And bitter, yet it is enough 
That if these failings to me cling, 
I can a counter influence bring, 

For plotting and prying. 
And speering and spying. 
In other folks' business, as there's no denying 
Some people delight in 
And take mighty spite in, 



25 

I hold in contciii])t and abhorrence undying ! " 

She ceased, and witli a si(k^-long glance, 

Looked up at Mars, who on his lance 

Leaned fierce and stately ; at her look 

The God a tlireatening posture took 

Against Apollo. Then he smiled 

With brightened brow and with the mild 

Caressing tone we give a child, 

He said to A^enus : "Lady sweet, 

The punishment you gave is meet. 

For well we know, your sihery word 

Pierced deeper than my keenest sword!" 

She raised her eyes to his, and then 

Let fall their snowy lids again, 

And with a playful mischief tried 

To lift the huge sword at his side ; 

Then whispered that she loved the Brave, 

And asked him, what advice he gave; 

He stooping to her rosy ear, 

Said something, none but she could hear, 

Save now and then, some word there fell. 

The purport of his speech to tell. 

"Ambition," " love," and " no regret," 

And something of a " golden net!" 

The Goddess blushed and would have frowned, 

But, as she could not, looked around 

And seeing Bacchus fast asleep, 

She motioned Mercury to creep 



2fi 

And steal his Thyrsis ; at the joke, 
The jolly God at once awoke ; 
Then hearing Venus call him up, 
He pledged her in a brimming cup, 
And starting up as all prepared, 
His counsel sage, he thus declared : 

» 

" If Pluto will take my advice, I'll ensure 

In less than a fortnight, his permanent cure, 
For I verily think, " 
(Here he gave a sly wink,) 

"The best thing he can do, is to take to hard drink 

And his sorrows and cares, in the flagon to sink ! " 

Quoth Venus, with a pretty pout, 

" I've half a mind to put you out 

Post haste to practice on your panthers. — 

Pray, Mercury, run for Radamanthus, 

If he can't help us in our plight, 

I'll try to set the matter right. 

Indeed, I'll do it anyhow 

For I've a brilliant idea now 

And to my woman's wit you'll bow ! 

I think, since Pluto can't lose sight 

Of Minthe's memory, and despite 

Her loss still loves her, it is right, 

His love should yield him vast delight. 

And not his peace and i:>leasure blight. 

You're conscious, "here she courtsied low, 



'27 

"The stroii^-o.st ])assi()ns Gods can know, 

Are love and liquor ; Til combine 

Tlio two, and make a drink divine, 

And when you taste it, I opine, 

You'll think it Nectar's self outshine ! 

And now I will dismiss you all. 

Until the shades of evening fall 

The Court's adjourned ; we'll then convene 

Our royal patient and his Queen, 

To punish her as will be seen. 

And work his perfect cure, I ween ! 




E AMBROSIAL DRINKE BEING MADE AND BLESS-ED WYTH SOVEREIGNE 
CHARMES. VENXTS PRESENTETH IT TO PLUTO. 



OX spreads abroad her starry pall, 

And in his Acheronian hall 
Sits gloomy Pluto in his pride, 
With Proserpina by his side. 
While courtier ghosts around them creep 
AmA deferential silence keep. 

Upon a table set apart. 
Each deputy had placed a treasure 
Which Venus, with transcendent art. 
Was to combine, in such a measure 



28 

That should, when mixed, eventuate 
Into a drink with powers so great, 
As even to invalidate 
The Queen's decree, and conquer Fate! 
The Goddess from her bosom took 

The fragrant herb still freshly dripping 
With crystal dew-drops from the l)rook, 

And with her pearly lingers nipping 
Its tender leaves, bade it extol 
Sweet Minthe's charms without control, 
And with ecstatic rapture roll 
Sublimed by Love, thr(^ugh Pluto's soul ; 
She then, within a gilded bowl. 

The fragrant leaflets lavish heaping 
That their aroma tinge the whole, 

Passed it along to Neptune's keeping. 
He kept the bowl just long enough 

To make it cold; then with a mighty 
Improper oath said, "Blast the stuff — 

I'm going back to Amphitrite, 
So farewell mates, till next I sight ye ! " 

Bright ivy-crowned Bacchus bore 
A mighty flask of liquor glorious 

To make the hearts of mortals soar 
O'er earth, up to a height uproarious ! 

Then as he poured, he charged the vine, 
That its most subtle powers combine, 

And with mysterious art entwine 



2*J 

To form with Minthe, a sublime 
Ethereal essence, all divine ! 
Apollo said, the only thing 

That he could see the drink required 
Which would a heightened pleasure bring, 

Or make it more to be desired — 
To raise it to the highest stand. 

Was more of mind commixed with matter. 
And so he would with skilful hand, 

An intellectual influence scatter, 
And charge imagination's gift, 
The drinker's mind, on pinions swift, 
Past heaven's golden gates to lift. 
Mars, who still close by Venus stood, 

That he might be excused, requested ; 
He thought the liquid all too good 

To be with warlike powers invested ! 
But still he would an influence add 

Which might impart a higher flavor. 
So it, unless the drinker had 

Imbibed too much, should make him braver! 
Said Mercury, " Don't let it slip 
Beyond our reach, before w^e dip 
Some sweetness in ; let Venus sip 
And yield it honey from her lip!" 
The Goddess filled a crystal cup 
And to her rosy lip put up 
The sparkling mixture; at its taste 



so 



She left her seat with eager haste, 
And gliding quick to Pluto's side 
The goblet to his mouth applied. 
Then cried, with clear, exultant voice 
"Oh! Pluto, over Fate rejoice ! 
Drink perfect solace to thy pain, 
And find thv Minthe live again !" 




)E GOD DEINKETH OF YE AMBROSIAL LIQUOR AND IS ELEVATED THERE- 
BYE ABOVE YE GREATE OLY5IPTJS ITSELF. 



Pluto, who with a stoic's frame, 

Had striven to hide his deepest feeling, 

Now at the sound of Minthe's name, 
Was moved to grief beyond concealing. 

He took from Venus, in surprise 

The cup, with hand all weak and trembling, 
Then dashed from his overflowing eyes 

The tears that streamed past his dissembling. 

He raised the goblet high in air, 

Then with a voice all soft and tender. 

Pronounced in ringing accents clear : 
" I drink to Minthe, Jove befriend her !" 



51 

And as he drank, the liquor ran 

Throughout his frame, his feelings warming, 
And with celestial power began 

His soul from o-rief to bliss transformino;. 

And still the influence wilder o-rew, 
And wilder yet, until he knew 
Beatitudes and joys intense, 
And happiness surpassing sense. 

And every quivering nerve was strung. 
And every vein was madly leaping, 

His nature's inmost depths were wrung, 
In ecstacy his senses steej)ing. 

The change his flashing eyes exprest, 
His glowing cheeks and swelling chest. 
It shone in smiles of winning grace, 
Like lambent lightning on his face. 

His very voice new sweetness showed. 
And thus his ardent thoughts o'erflowed : 

Oh! Jove,* 

Oh ! Love, 

Oh ! Venus bright, 

I pant — 

I faint. 

In tierce delight; 

My senses reel 



*The God is presumed to take a sip between eacli ejaculation. — P. D. 



32 

And dazzled feel, 

I'm every inch a God to-night ! 

A God! A God! 

Aye ! every inch a God to-night ! 

Another cup! 

High fill it up, 

No common kind of drink is this. 

It foams, it glows, 

And round me throws, 
A ravished charm of perfect bliss ! 

A magic spell, 

No words can tell, 
Steals softly o'er my spirit now, 

And raptures press 

In such excess, 
That to their golden sway, I bow 1 

The bitter pain 

That burnt my brain, 
Is softened into pleasure sweet. 

More rich, more rare, 

More bright, more fair. 
My cherished Love, again I greet ! 

Ah ! cruel Queen, 

Had'st thou foreseen 
The joys, thy cruelty would give, 

Thou'st striven to bring 

Some keener sting. 
Thou would'st have let my Minthe live! 



33 

And had she lived, as years rolled on 
And her young beauties died away 

Perchance my love had with them gone, 
Like them, had sunk into decay. 

Or, failing that, she was too far 

RemoN'ed from my enchanted sight ; 

She shone above me, like a star 
Upon the glittering brow of night. 

And though I loved her all too much. 
And madly longed to make her mine, 

My warmest fancies could not touch 
A soul as pure as Dian's shrine. 

Thanks, lady, to thy powerful hate, 

That crushed, in death, a thing so rare; 

I now can smile supreme o'er Fate, 
And MiXTHE claim forever fair ! 

Forever fair, forever young, 
Forever sweet, forever kind; — 

Oh ! never may immortal tongue 
Declare the bliss, in her, I find ! 

And ever by me, night and day, 
Laughing the rosy hours away 
All fresh and smiling shall she stand, 
In noontide's blaze, at twilight bland, 
At home — abroad, on sea or land, 



34 

Obedient to my least command, 

Twined in indissoluljle band ! 

And never will her beauties pale, 

And never will her sweetness fail ! 

Her sweetness — Ah ! tliat dulcet sip ! 

She melts in lioney »>n my lip ! 

And as the tierce (dectric flood 

Goes madly surging through my blood 

I drink again ; again she yields 

An added bliss, " till Nature feels 

My raptured powers can reach no liigher 

One atom more, and I expire 

Beneath a blaze of surging tire ! 

Oh ! lady wife, frown on with rage — 

I care not though thv looks should be 

As black as Erebus, and wage 

As fierce a war; they fall on me 

As harmless as the summer rain. 

Which down on new blown roses drips ; 

I feel no heart-ache, know not pain 

With MiNTHE melting on my lips ! 

Here lady, to thy health I quaff 

Thy rosy rival bright and free ! 

See how the saucy bubbles laugh, 

With love for me, and scorn for thee ! 

Dost thou remember, Proserpine, 

When thou my gentle love wouldst bind 

With fearful curs.e and malice dread; 



S5 

Tbo imvard ai\i>;uisli of Ium- soul 
Hroke fortli in speech beyond eontrol, 
And thus to {\wc proudly said : 
" Then lady know although thine art 
My form from Pli^to may dispart. 
I'll reign foreAcr in his heart ! " 
'' Forever in his heai't ! " sweet love, 
Mow true thy prophe(;y did pro\e ! 
Aye more, far more ; 
The (xods restore 
Thy form s'ill lovelier than before; 
And Mint HE now and evermore, 
From Pluto's arms, and Pluto's heart, 
Nor Heaven nor Hell can e'er dispart ! 
Come h>ve — again — again — once more, 
The draft is sweeter than before ! 
Xo shrinking, Sweet — another kiss — 
And raise me to the height of bliss. 
And as that fades in smiling light. 
We'll find another still more briLd.t: 
Aye, as the circling ages run. 
Each morrow with its golden sun 
Will sweeter influence round us bind, 
More deeply blessed by Love, will find — 
More wrapped in ecstasy divine 
I wholly thine — thou wholly mine, 
Forever mine! forever mine! I" 



^ 



HD 



. 1' 























-^^0^ 














o ...0^ 





C, vP 
»* V '^ "^ 











" •<>* V 














Oeacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing Agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: 

IIIIBbbkkeeper 







y< 



PRESERVATION TECHNOLOGIES, LP. 



"^ 111 Thomson Park Drive 
Crf""" — ' 
(72 



Vj -' Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
> (724)778-2111 




3 »> A^ 




•^.-.<-' 
*^"-. 







lV^. 



^^ -."^^^^>'/ -^^^ "^^ -.^^SP,*' J'^'^^^ "^mw*" J^"^ %, -. 

,0 



-rS\N 



S- 















A 9. 






'm>/^ 








































"^t^o^ : 



^o 



BROS. V *-'J^:^f/' J" ^iT' "->'<^/" 



4^ ■^<^ 






DOBBSI 
LiaiiAiiv I ,^ ... _ 

DOT 7 9'. \ ,..\-^^-.\ .^''^•-•-"- ^^ 



ST. AUGUSTINE 
^^^32084 



-.^^"-' 







